Electrical connecting device for insulated wires

ABSTRACT

Electrical connecting device for insulated wires comprises a plastic connector body having a bore and having two passageways extending laterally therein and communicating with the bore. When the wires are inserted into the passageways, they will be crossed adjacent to the inner end of the bore and a plug is inserted into the bore which compresses the crossed wires against the inner end of the bore. The insulation on the crossed portions of the wires is extruded and the conducting cores of the wires are brought into electrical contact with each other.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,902,780 Dola Sept. 2, 1975 [54] ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE FOR 3,487,354 12/1969 Duncan 339/98 INSULATED WIRES 3,668,301 6/1972 Faulconer 174/72 R X lnventor: Frank Peter Dola, Port Richey, Fla.

Assignee: AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 Appl. No.: 423,640

[52] US. Cl. 339/97 R; 174/72 R; 174/88 R; 339/98 Int. Cl H011- 11/20 Field of Search 174/90, 72 R, 84 S, 88 R, 174/88 S; 339/9S97, 98, 99, 162, 167, 219,

220, 223 R, 272 R, 272 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1953 Oortgijscn .1 174/84 s x 1/1958 Dreher 339 97 c x 4/1958 Curtiss 174/90 x Primary E.\'aminerRoy Lake Assistant E.\'aminerE. F. Desmond Attorney, Agent, or FirmFrederick W. Raring; Robert W. Pitts; Jay L. Seitchik 5 7 ABSTRACT 12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE FOR INSULATED WIRES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to the achievement of an inexpensive, easily applied connecting device for connecting wires under circumstances such as those which exist when the wires of a detonator must be spliced to wires extending from a voltage source.

Detonators for dynamite are manufactured with two short lead wires which must be spliced to longer wires extending from a voltage source (a magneto or battery) when preparations are made to set off a dynamite charge. The working conditions are such that it is not desirable to use any of the commonly available crimp type connecting devices because of the need for a crimping tool and even screw type wire splicing devices are not desirable because of the need for a screw-driver to form the connection. The present invention is therefore directed to the achievement of a low cost but highly reliable connecting device which does not require any hand tools when it is put to use and which can be readily applied and finally, which will permit the technician to determine if a connection has been properly made.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved toolless wire-connecting device. A further object is to provide an inexpensive connecting device which can be applied to wires by an operator or technician who has not been instructed in its use. A further object is to provide an expendable wire connecting device having features which permit the technician to determine from rapid visual inspection whether or not wires to which it has been applied are effectively con nected.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a preferred embodiment thereof, which is described in the foregoing abstract, which is described in detail below and which is described in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a connecting device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the wires inserted into the wire receiving passageways and showing the plug members as exploded from the passageways.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the plugs as fully threaded into passageways.

I FIG. 4 is a view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

A preferred form of connecting device in accordance with the invention is adapted to connect a first pair of wires 2, 4 to each other and a second pair of wires 6, 8 to each other. The wires 2, 6 may extend, for example, from a dynamite detonator and must be connected to wires 4, 8 which extend from a voltage source. The connecting device comprises a generally cylindrical insulating body 10 having bores (i.e. blind circular holes) 12 extending inwardly from the end surfaces 9 thereof. Each bore is threaded as shown at 13 but the threads do not extend entirely to the inner end 15 of the bore.

First and second wire receiving passageways 14, 16 extend inwardly from the side of the body and communicate with the bores 12. The first passageways 14 open into the bores adjacent to the inner ends 15 so that equal to the diameters of the wires from the first passageways and these second passageways are radially offset from the first passageways so that the inserted wires will be crossed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

A plug member 18 is provided for each bore, these plug members each having a shank 20 having threads 22 which complement the threads 13 in the bores. The plug members have enlarged ends 24 and the lengths of the shanks from the undersides 26 of the heads to the ends of the shanks is slightly less than the depths of the bores 12. Advantageously, both the body member and the plugs are provided with integral axial ribs 28 to facilitate handling and tightening of the plugs. These ribs also provide tactile and visual assurance that the device has been properly applied to the wires as will be explained below.

In use, the wires are simply inserted into the passageways and the plugs 18 are threaded into the bores until the undersides 26 of the heads are against the surfaces 9 of the connector body 10. The dimensional relations of the shank portion of the plugs and the depths of the bores is such that the crossed portions of the wires are compressed against the inner ends 15 of the bores and the insulation on the crossed portions is extruded from the point or zone of crossing so that the conducting cores are brought into electrical contact with each other.

Connecting devices in accordance with the invention can be manufactured of any suitable relatively firm plastic, however, a particularly desirable material is a clear, transparent poly-carbonate of the type sold under the trademark Lexan by the General Electric Company. If the connector body and the plugs are of clear poly-carbonate, the technician can determine from visual inspection that the wires are crossed and are in electrical contact. Added assurance of the effectiveness and completeness of the connection is provided by the fact that the underside of 26 of each plug is against the associated surface 9 when the plugs are fully threaded into the body.

Further assurance that the Wires are properly connected can be obtained if the lengths of the shanks 20, the depths of the bores 12, and the locations of the ribs 28 on the plugs and on the body are all selected such that when the plugs are fully threaded into the bores (FIG. 3) the ribs 28 on the plugs are in alignment with the ribs 28 on the body member; the ribs thus serve as indicators that the wires are connected. In this instance, the assurance is both visual and tactile so that the technician can determine under poor lighting tonditions, as in a mine, whether or not the wires have been properly connected.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connecting device for connecting a first insulated wire to a second insulated wire, said connecting device comprising:

a connector body of firm plastic insulating material,

said body having a first surface and having a blind bore extending into said first surface,

said body having an additional surface which is adjacent to said first surface, said additional surface extending beside the axis of said bore,

first and second wire-receiving passageways extending into said additional surface and communicating with said bore, said-first passageway communicating with said bore adjacent to the inner end thereof so that a wire inserted through said first passageway and into said bore will be on the surface of said inner end of said bore, said second passageway having its axis spaced from the axis of said first passageway by a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the wires for which said device is intended whereby upon inserting said second insulated wires into said second passageway said second wire will extend adjacent to said first wire, said passageways being radially offset with reference to said axis of said bore whereby said first and second wires will be crossed after insertion, and

a plug member dimensioned to fit tightly in said bore, said plug member having a length which is less than the depth of said bore and which is greater than the depth of said bore minus the total thickness of the conducting cores of said wires, said plug member having a head at one end thereof whereby,

upon inserting said wires through said passageways and inserting said plug member into said bore until said head is against said first surface, said wires are pressed against each other and the insulation on said wires is extruded from the point of crossing of said wires whereby said wires are electrically connected to each other.

2. A connecting device as set forth in claim 1, said plug member and said bore having complementary screw threads.

3. A connecting device as set forth in claim 2, said device being of a transparent plastic material.

4. A connecting device as set forth in claim 1, said body having a second surface which is parallel to said first surface, said device having a second bore and having wire-receiving passageways communicating with said second bore, and an additional plug member, said device being adapted to connect additional wires to each other.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 said connector body and said plug members having axially extending ribs thereon, said ribs on said plug members being in alignment with said ribs on said connector body when plug members are fully threaded into said bores.

6. An electrical connecting device for connecting the wires of a first pair of wires to the wires of a second pair of wires, said device comprising:

a generally cylindrical connector body having parallel end surfaces,

an axial bore extending into said each of said end surfaces, said bores having inner ends,

wire-receiving passageways extending laterally into said body and communicating with said bores, said passageways being adapted to admit two wires into each of said bores,

a plug member for each of said bores, said plug members each comprising a shank and a head portion, said shanks and said bores having complementary screw threads, said shanks having a length which is less than the depths of said bores and which is sufficient, when said plug members are fully threaded into said bores, to compress wires extending into said bores against each other and against said inner ends of said bores thereby to electrically connect said wires, and

axially extending indicator means on said plug members and on said connector body, said indicator means on said plug members being in alignment with said indicator means on said body when said plug members are fully threaded into said bores thereby to ensure that said wires in said bores are electrically connected.

7. A connecting device as set forth in claim 6 said indicator means comprising ribs.

8. An electrical connecting device and an electrical connection between a first insulated wire and a second insulated wire,

said connecting device comprising a connector body of firm plastic insulating material, said body having a threaded bore therein, said bore having an inner end,

first and second wire receiving cylindrical passageways extending into said body normally of the axis of said bore and communicating with said bore, said first passageway opening into said bore at said inner end, said second passageway opening into said bore at a location adjacent to, but spaced from said inner end, by a distance which is substantially equal to the diameter of one of said wires said passageways being radially offset with respect to each other relative to the axis of said bore said first and second wires extending into said first and second passageways respectively and having crossed portions at a crossing point in said bore,

a threaded plug member threaded into said bore, said plug member extending past said second passageway and compressing said crossed portions of said wires against said inner end of said bore, the insulation of said crossed portions being extruded from said crossing point and the conducting cores of said wires being against, and in electrical contact with each other.

9. An electrical connecting device and an electrical connection as set forth in claim 8, said connector body being generally cylindrical and having parallel ends, said bore extending into one of said ends, a second bore extending into the other one of said ends, passageways extending into said second bore and wires extending into said passageways, and a second plug member thereby connecting a third insulated wire to a fourth insulated wire.

10. An electrical connecting device and electrical connections as set forth in claim 9, said plug members having enlarged head portions, said enlarged head portions being against said ends of said body thereby to indicate that said plug members are fully inserted into said bores and said wires are connected.

11. An electrical connecting device and electrical connections as set forth in 10, said head portions of said plug members and said connector body having axially extending indicator means thereon, said axially extending indicator means on said head portions being in alignment with said axially extending indicator means on said body thereby to provide an indication that said plug members are fully inserted into said bores and said wires are connected.

12. An electrical connecting device and electrical connections as set forth in claim 11, said indicator means comprising ribs. 

1. An electrical connecting device for connecting a first insulated wire to a second insulated wire, said connecting device comprising: a connector body of firm plastic insulating material, said body having a first surface and having a blind bore extending into said first surface, said body having an additional surface which is adjacent to said first surface, said additional surface extending beside the axis of said bore, first and second wire-receiving passageways extending into said additIonal surface and communicating with said bore, said first passageway communicating with said bore adjacent to the inner end thereof so that a wire inserted through said first passageway and into said bore will be on the surface of said inner end of said bore, said second passageway having its axis spaced from the axis of said first passageway by a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the wires for which said device is intended whereby upon inserting said second insulated wires into said second passageway said second wire will extend adjacent to said first wire, said passageways being radially offset with reference to said axis of said bore whereby said first and second wires will be crossed after insertion, and a plug member dimensioned to fit tightly in said bore, said plug member having a length which is less than the depth of said bore and which is greater than the depth of said bore minus the total thickness of the conducting cores of said wires, said plug member having a head at one end thereof whereby, upon inserting said wires through said passageways and inserting said plug member into said bore until said head is against said first surface, said wires are pressed against each other and the insulation on said wires is extruded from the point of crossing of said wires whereby said wires are electrically connected to each other.
 2. A connecting device as set forth in claim 1, said plug member and said bore having complementary screw threads.
 3. A connecting device as set forth in claim 2, said device being of a transparent plastic material.
 4. A connecting device as set forth in claim 1, said body having a second surface which is parallel to said first surface, said device having a second bore and having wire-receiving passageways communicating with said second bore, and an additional plug member, said device being adapted to connect additional wires to each other.
 5. A device as set forth in claim 4 said connector body and said plug members having axially extending ribs thereon, said ribs on said plug members being in alignment with said ribs on said connector body when plug members are fully threaded into said bores.
 6. An electrical connecting device for connecting the wires of a first pair of wires to the wires of a second pair of wires, said device comprising: a generally cylindrical connector body having parallel end surfaces, an axial bore extending into said each of said end surfaces, said bores having inner ends, wire-receiving passageways extending laterally into said body and communicating with said bores, said passageways being adapted to admit two wires into each of said bores, a plug member for each of said bores, said plug members each comprising a shank and a head portion, said shanks and said bores having complementary screw threads, said shanks having a length which is less than the depths of said bores and which is sufficient, when said plug members are fully threaded into said bores, to compress wires extending into said bores against each other and against said inner ends of said bores thereby to electrically connect said wires, and axially extending indicator means on said plug members and on said connector body, said indicator means on said plug members being in alignment with said indicator means on said body when said plug members are fully threaded into said bores thereby to ensure that said wires in said bores are electrically connected.
 7. A connecting device as set forth in claim 6 said indicator means comprising ribs.
 8. An electrical connecting device and an electrical connection between a first insulated wire and a second insulated wire, said connecting device comprising a connector body of firm plastic insulating material, said body having a threaded bore therein, said bore having an inner end, first and second wire receiving cylindrical passageways extending into said body normally of the axis of said bore and communicating with said bore, said firSt passageway opening into said bore at said inner end, said second passageway opening into said bore at a location adjacent to, but spaced from said inner end, by a distance which is substantially equal to the diameter of one of said wires said passageways being radially offset with respect to each other relative to the axis of said bore said first and second wires extending into said first and second passageways respectively and having crossed portions at a crossing point in said bore, a threaded plug member threaded into said bore, said plug member extending past said second passageway and compressing said crossed portions of said wires against said inner end of said bore, the insulation of said crossed portions being extruded from said crossing point and the conducting cores of said wires being against, and in electrical contact with each other.
 9. An electrical connecting device and an electrical connection as set forth in claim 8, said connector body being generally cylindrical and having parallel ends, said bore extending into one of said ends, a second bore extending into the other one of said ends, passageways extending into said second bore and wires extending into said passageways, and a second plug member thereby connecting a third insulated wire to a fourth insulated wire.
 10. An electrical connecting device and electrical connections as set forth in claim 9, said plug members having enlarged head portions, said enlarged head portions being against said ends of said body thereby to indicate that said plug members are fully inserted into said bores and said wires are connected.
 11. An electrical connecting device and electrical connections as set forth in 10, said head portions of said plug members and said connector body having axially extending indicator means thereon, said axially extending indicator means on said head portions being in alignment with said axially extending indicator means on said body thereby to provide an indication that said plug members are fully inserted into said bores and said wires are connected.
 12. An electrical connecting device and electrical connections as set forth in claim 11, said indicator means comprising ribs. 